100 Greatest Cooking Tips (of all time!)

1. Remember, y'all, it’s all about the prep. Take away the stress by doing the prep the night or day before. You'll look like a star.Paula Deen
Paula’s Best Dishes

2. The smaller the item, the higher the baking temperature. For example, I bake mini chocolate chip-toffee cookies at 500 degrees F for only 4 minutes. Perfect end result.Jim LaheyCo. and Sullivan Street Bakery, New York City

4. Use a coarse microplane to shave vegetables into salads or vinaigrettes. You can create an orange-fennel dressing by adding grated fennel and orange zest to a simple vinaigrette.Paul KahanAvec, Big Star, Blackbird and The Publican, Chicago

5. Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze it in plastic bags. That way, when you want to make a nice soup or boil veggies, you can simply pull the bag out of the freezer.Charlie TrotterCharlie Trotter's, Chicago

6. If you're cooking for someone important — whether it's your boss or a date — never try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time.Marcus SamuelssonRed Rooster, New York City

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Mario Batali's Tip

Photo by: Levi Brown

Levi Brown

7. Cook pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions and cook it the rest of the way in the pan with sauce.Mario Batali
Iron Chef America

Sunny Side Up Egg

8. After making eggs sunny-side up, deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar, then drizzle the sauce on the eggs to add another dimension to the dish.Didier Elena
New York City

9. After working with garlic, rub your hands vigorously on your stainless steel sink for 30 seconds before washing them. It will remove the odor.Gerard CraftNiche and Taste, St. Louis

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11. Remember schmaltz? Your mom and grandmother probably used a lot of it in their home cooking. Schmaltz, or chicken fat, has a great flavor and richness; it has a deeper flavor than duck fat and can be used on nearly everything. I also love poaching fish in it.Tony MawsCraigie On Main, Cambridge, MA

12. If you find you need more oil in the pan when sautéing, add it in a stream along the edges of the pan so that by the time the oil reaches the ingredient being cooked, it will be heated.Anita LoAnnisa, New York City

13. When you deep-fry, hold each piece of food with long tongs as you add it to the oil. Hold it just below the oil's surface for five seconds before releasing it. This will seal the exterior and stop it from sticking to the pot or the other food.Michael PsilakisFishTag and Kefi, New York City

16. To make a great sandwich, spread the mayonnaise from corner to corner on the bread. People rush this step and just do a swoosh down the middle. Every bite should be flavorful. Now that's a sandwich!Roy ChoiKogi BBQ and A-Frame, Los Angeles

17. If you keep it simple and buy ingredients at farmers' markets, the food can pretty much take care of itself. Do as little as possible to the food; consider leaving out an ingredient and relying on instinct.Tony MantuanoSpiaggia, Chicago

18. Always season meat and fish evenly; sprinkle salt and pepper as though it's "snowing." This will avoid clumping or ending up with too much seasoning in some areas and none in others.Mary DumontHarvest, Cambridge, MA

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Ina Garten's Tip

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Levi Brown

19. For best results when you're baking, leave butter and eggs at room temperature overnight.Ina Garten
Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics

20. Homemade vinaigrettes have fewer ingredients and taste better than bottled ones. No need to whisk them: Just put all the ingredients in a sealed container and shake.Bill TelepanTelepan, New York City

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21. For an easy weeknight meal, save and freeze leftover sauces from previous meals in ice cube trays. The cubes can be reheated in a sauté pan when you need a quick sauce.David BurkeDavid Burke Townhouse, New York City

22. When making meatballs or meatloaf, you need to know how the mixture tastes before you cook it. Make a little patty and fry it in a pan like a mini hamburger. Then you can taste it and adjust the seasoning.Isaac Becker112 Eatery, Minneapolis

23. Instead of placing a chicken on a roasting rack, cut thick slices of onion, put them in an oiled pan, then place the chicken on top. The onion will absorb the chicken juices. After roasting, let the chicken rest while you make a sauce with the onions by adding a little stock or water to the pan and cooking it for about 3 minutes on high heat.Donald LinkCochon and Herbsaint, New Orleans

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25. After cutting corn off the cob, use the back side of a knife (not the blade side) to scrape the cob again to extract the sweet milk left behind. This milk adds flavor and body to any corn dish.Kerry SimonSimon, Las Vegas

27. Take the time to actually read recipes through before you begin.John Besh
Author of My New Orleans

28. Organize yourself. Write a prep list and break that list down into what may seem like ridiculously small parcels, like "grate cheese" and "grind pepper" and "pull out plates." You will see that a "simple meal" actually has more than 40 steps. If even 10 of those steps require 10 minutes each and another 10 of those steps take 5 minutes each, you're going to need two and a half hours of prep time. (And that doesn't include phone calls, bathroom breaks and changing the radio station!) Write down the steps and then cross them off. It's very satisfying!Gabrielle HamiltonPrune, New York City

29. Recipes are only a guideline, not the Bible. Feel comfortable replacing ingredients with similar ingredients that you like. If you like oregano but not thyme, use oregano.Alex SeidelFruition, Denver

30. A braised or slow-roasted whole beef roast or pork shoulder can be made into several dishes and sandwiches all week.Elizabeth FalknerCorvo Bianco, New York City

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32. Anytime you are using raw onions in a salsa and you are not going to eat that salsa in the next 20 minutes or so, be sure to rinse the diced onions under cold running water first, then blot dry. This will rid them of sulfurous gas that can ruin fresh salsa. It's really important in guacamole, too.Mark MillerCoyote Cafe, Santa Fe, NM

33. Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta: It will keep the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta.Missy RobbinsA Voce, New York City

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34. For safety, put a wine cork on the tip of a knife before putting the knife in a drawer.Giuseppe TentoriBoka Restaurant & Bar, Chicago

35. When you’re going to sauté garlic, slice it rather than mincing it — it's less likely to burn that way.Aarti Sequeira
Aarti Party

36. When you're browning meat, you should blot the surface dry with a paper towel so the meat doesn't release moisture when it hits the hot oil. Too much moisture makes the meat steam instead of sear, and you will lose that rich brown crust.Charlie PalmerCharlie Palmer Group

37. To cut pancetta or bacon into lardons, put in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will firm up the meat and make it easier to cut.Chris Cosentino
Chefs vs. City

38. A cast-iron pan is a valuable kitchen ally. It offers an even cooking surface and is a breeze to clean.Linton HopkinsRestaurant Eugene, Atlanta

39. Smash garlic cloves inside a resealable plastic bag with the back of a knife. That way, your cutting board and knife won't smell.Laurent TourondelBrasserie Ruhlmann, New York City

40. To get nice, crispy caramelization on roasted vegetables, simulate the intense heat of an industrial oven: Bring your oven up as hot as it goes, then put an empty roasting or sheet pan inside for 10 to 15 minutes. Toss the vegetables — try carrots or Brussels sprouts — with olive oil, salt and pepper, and put them on the hot pan. This method will give you the high heat you need to caramelize the sugars in the vegetables quickly.Naomi PomeroyBeast, Portland, OR

41. Invest in a bottle of high-quality olive oil. Just a small drizzle can really bring out the flavor of pizza, mozzarella, pasta, fish and meat.Nancy SilvertonOsteria Mozza, Los Angeles

42. Marinating meat with citrus can give it a mealy texture. If you like citrus, a little squeeze of lemon or lime is always a good way to finish the dish instead.Tim LoveLonesome Dove Western Bistro, Fort Worth, TX

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47. Plunge vegetables in ice water after blanching (boiling) them so they maintain a bright color.Maria HinesTilth, Seattle

48. Invest in parchment paper for lining pans. It makes all of your baked goods super easy to remove, and it makes cleanup a dream (no butter-flour mixture or errant batter to scrape off).Matt LewisBaked, Brooklyn and Charleston, SC

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

Photo by: Levi Brown

Levi Brown

49. My grandfather taught me this tip: After you drain pasta, while it's still hot, grate some fresh Parmesan on top before tossing it with your sauce. This way, the sauce has something to stick to.Giada De Laurentiis
Giada at Home

51. When you roast a whole chicken, the breast always overcooks and dries out because the legs have to cook longer. This is a really simple way to keep a chicken breast moist: Separate the breast and the leg. Season as you normally would and roast as you normally would, but remove the breast sooner than the leg.Tim CushmanO Ya, Boston

52. Buy fruit at its peak at a farmers' market and freeze it in an airtight container so you can enjoy it year round.Mindy SegalMindy's HotChocolate, Chicago

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53. Fresh basil keeps much better and longer at room temperature with the stems in water.Elisabeth PrueittTartine Bakery, San Francisco

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

Photo by: Levi Brown

Levi Brown

54. Season all of your food from start to finish. Seasoning in stages brings the most out of your ingredients and gives you the most flavor.Jose Garces
Iron Chef America

55. To cook a steak, I always start by cooking it on its side, where there is a rim of fat on its narrow edge. I render it down so there's good, flavorful fat in the pan for the rest of the cooking.Alain DucasseBenoit, New York City

Choose a steak with a layer of fat on one side, such as ribeye or sirloin.

Put the steak fat-side down in a hot pan, holding it with tongs.

Once the fat is rendered, lay the steak flat in the pan and cook on both sides.

56. Taste what you make before you serve it. I'm amazed that people will follow a recipe but not taste the dish to see if it needs more salt, pepper or spices.Brad FarmeriePublic and Saxon+Parole, New York City

57. Season fish simply and cook it with respect. The flavor of the fish is what you want. When it comes off the grill or out of the oven or pan, finish it with a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Always. There is just something about lemon and fish that is heavenly.Rick MoonenRM Seafood, Las Vegas

Cauliflower

58. If you're cooking cauliflower, add a bit of milk to the water with salt to keep the cauliflower bright white. Shock it in cold water to stop the cooking and then serve.
Michael WhiteMarea, Osteria Morini and Ai Fiori, New York City

59. When grinding your own beef for burgers, grind in some bacon.Sean BrockMcCrady's, Charleston, SC

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

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Levi Brown

60. Don't go to the store with a shopping list. Go to the store, see what ingredients look good and then make your list.Alex Guarnaschelli
Alex’s Day Off

61. When making mashed potatoes, after you drain the potatoes, return them to the hot pan, cover tightly and let steam for 5 minutes. This allows the potatoes to dry out so they'll mash to a beautiful texture and soak up the butter and cream more easily.Wolfgang PuckSpago, Los Angeles

62. If you want to make a proper Louisiana-style roux that's chocolate in color and rich in flavor, remember slow and low is the way to go.Emeril Lagasse
Fresh Food Fast

63. For better-tasting asparagus, cure the stalks: Peel them, roll in equal parts sugar and salt, and let them sit for 10 minutes, then rinse off and prepare as desired.Shea GallanteCiano, New York City

64. When you grill, pull your steaks out of the refrigerator one hour ahead of time so they can come to room temperature.Geoffrey ZakarianThe Lambs Club and The National, New York City

65. Always measure what you're baking. No shortcuts in pastry: It's a science.Francois PayardFrancois Payard Bakery, New York City

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

Photo by: Levi Brown

Levi Brown

66. When using fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley, add whole stems to salads and sandwiches, and chop and stir leaves into salsas and guacamole.Aarón Sánchez
Chefs vs. City

67. If you don't have time to brine your chicken, use this simple trick: Heavily salt the chicken (inside and out) about an hour before you cook it. Then pat it dry and roast. This ensures crispy skin and juicy meat.David MyersComme Ça, Los Angeles and Las Vegas

68. When made properly, risotto's richness comes from the starchy rice and the stock. As the risotto cooks, stir it with a wooden spoon in rhythmic movements that go across the bottom and around the sides of the pan. The rice should constantly be bubbling, drinking up the liquid as it cooks.Suzanne GoinLucques and AOC, Los Angeles

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69. Use a cake tester to test the doneness of fish, meat and vegetables. It's my secret weapon — I use it in the kitchen to test everything.Daniel HummEleven Madison Park, New York City

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

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Levi Brown

70. Serving cake:
1. Serve at room temperature.
2. Don't "pre-slice" cake more than 20 minutes in advance. It dries out too quickly.
3. You don't have to eat the fondant. It's really pretty, but if you don't want a mouthful of pure sugar, peel it off.
4. The best cake comes from Baltimore. Just sayin’.Duff Goldman
Ace of Cakes

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lemon

Photo by: Ben Hung

Ben Hung

71. To optimize the juice you get from a lemon or lime, roll it hard under your palm for a minute before juicing. (Or — never say I told you this — microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds.)Patricia Yeo
Lucky Duck, Boston

72. For perfect vegetable soup, start with diced carrots, onions, peppers and tomatoes sautéed in oil or butter before you add any liquid. This brings out the taste and caramelizes the sugars.Shaun HergattJuni, New York City

77. Always buy the freshest garlic you can find; the fresher it is, the sweeter it will be. The best garlic has firm tissue-like skin and should not be bruised, sprouted, soft or shriveled. If you find cloves that have green shoots, discard the shoots — they will only add bitterness.Todd EnglishThe Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, New York City

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79. Don't be too hard on yourself — mistakes make some of the best recipes! Keep it simple.Sunny Anderson
Cooking for Real

80. Fry eggs the Spanish way: Get a good quantity of olive oil hot. Before you add the egg, heat the spatula (if it's metal) in the oil first. That way the egg won't stick to it. Add the egg and fry it quickly, until it gets "puntillitas," or slightly browned edges.José AndrésThink Food Group

Heat a metal spatula in a skillet with hot olive oil.

Fry the eggs until browned around the edges; remove with the hot spatula.

81. Prolong the lifespan of greens by wrapping them loosely in a damp paper towel and placing in a resealable plastic bag. That local arugula will last about four days longer.Hugh AchesonFive & Ten, Athens, GA

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

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Levi Brown

82. Want to know if your oil is hot enough for frying? Here’s a tip: Stick a wooden skewer or spoon in the oil. If bubbles form around the wood, then you are good to go.Aaron McCargo, Jr.
Big Daddy’s House

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83. When a recipe calls for zest, instead of grating it into a separate container or onto parchment paper, hold the zester over the mixing bowl and zest directly onto the butter or cream. The aromatic citrus oils that are sprayed into the bowl will give the dessert a zesty finish.Pichet OngSpot Dessert Bar, New York City

84. Use good oil when cooking. Smell and taste it: If it doesn't taste good alone, it won't taste good in your food.Michelle BernsteinMichy's, Miami

85. Cook with other people who want to learn or who know how to cook.Laurent Gras
New York City

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87. Make sure the handle of your sauté pan is turned away from you so you don't hit it and knock it off the stove. It happens all the time.Jonathan WaxmanBarbuto, New York City

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

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Levi Brown

88. Don't dress the salad when having a big party. Leave it on the side and let the people do it themselves. I've had too many soggy salads because of this.Marc Forgione
Iron Chef America

89. For crispy fish skin, rest the fish on paper towels skin-side down for a few minutes before cooking (the towels absorb moisture). Then sauté skin-side down over medium heat in oil and butter. Flip over for the last few minutes of cooking.Govind Armstrong8 oz. Burger Bar, Los Angeles and Miami

90. When cooking eggplant, I like to use the long, skinny, purple Japanese kind because you don't have to salt it to pull out the bitter liquid like you do with the larger Italian variety.Andrew CarmelliniLocanda Verde and The Dutch, New York City

91. Caramelize onions very quickly by cooking them in a dry nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat. They will caramelize beautifully in a lot less time than with traditional methods.Michael MinaBourbon Steak and Michael Mina restaurants, multiple locations

92. To help keep an onion together while dicing, do not remove the root.Jean-Robert de CavelJean-Robert's Table, Cincinnati

Slice off the pointy stem, then cut the onion in half through the root; peel.

Put each half cut-side down; make horizontal cuts parallel to the board.

Make vertical cuts, starting close to the root end; do not slice through the root.

Holding the root end, slice across the vertical cuts; the diced onion will fall away.

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Food Stylist: Brett Kurzweil
Prop Stylist: Meghan Guthrie

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Levi Brown

93. Whenever you cook pasta, remove some of the pasta-cooking water (about 1/4 or 1/3 cup) just before draining. When you add the sauce of your choice to the pasta, add a little of the cooking liquid. This helps sauce to amalgamate; the starch in the water adds body and a kind of creaminess. An old Italian friend of mine instructed me in this finishing touch early on, and I would never, ever leave it out. It makes all the difference.Nigella Lawson
Nigella Kitchen

94. Making the best ceviche is simple: Use freshly squeezed lime juice and glistening fresh fish.Douglas RodriguezAlma de Cuba, Philadelphia

95. When making caramel, use a nonstick pot. That way, when you pour the mixture out, there is no waste, and cleaning the pot is a breeze.Jehangir MehtaMehtaphor and Graffiti, New York City

96. Don't be afraid to ask the butcher or fishmonger to see the products up close and to smell for freshness. Fish should never smell fishy.Eric RipertLe Bernardin, New York City

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Portions of chocolate chip cookie dough placed on baking sheet

Photo by: Dave King

Dave King

98. When baking cookies, be sure your dough is thoroughly chilled when it goes on your baking pan. This will allow the leavening ingredients to work before the butter flattens out and your cookies lose their textural distinctions.Norman Van AkenNorman's, Orlando, FL

99. My general advice to home cooks is that if you think you have added enough salt, double it.Grant AchatzAlinea and Aviary, Chicago

100. Reduce the heat of chiles by removing the seeds. My method is making four straight cuts down the sides. This will create four long slivers, and the cluster of seeds will remain in the center of the chile. The result will be less heat and more great flavor.Dean FearingFearing's, Dallas

Slice lengthwise along one side of the chile, keeping the stem and seedpod intact.

Turn the chile and slice off another side; repeat to remove the other two sides.

Cleaning grill grates before or after grilling is a must: This helps prevent food from attaching and keeps leftover grit from sticking to your food. All grills should be cleaned at the start of the season to keep everything in tip-top shape.